New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

just got approved for a Citi Diamond Preferred card. 0% APR on Purchases and BT through 8/31/09. I am planning on using this card for a BT of $1800, but only got approved for a CL of $2100. I am concerned that this would negatively affect my FICO score (around 718) because of the high utilization that card would have (over 80%). my overall utilization would be around 23%.

My question, should I call the backdoor number and request a CLI/ higher CLI? If so, how long should I wait to call, and what should I say? I have not done this before.

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

just got approved for a Citi Diamond Preferred card. 0% APR on Purchases and BT through 8/31/09. I am planning on using this card for a BT of $1800, but only got approved for a CL of $2100. I am concerned that this would negatively affect my FICO score (around 718) because of the high utilization that card would have (over 80%). my overall utilization would be around 23%.

My question, should I call the backdoor number and request a CLI/ higher CLI? If so, how long should I wait to call, and what should I say? I have not done this before.

Thanks for all your help.

No need to wait for 6 months as mentioned in the above post. I received the exact same card as you last month ($2500). I phoned in my activation and asked the rep if I could request a CLI. Rep asked me how much was I looking for. I asked double my initial CL ($5000 total). Rep said no problem. I'm a happy camper.

I'm not sure about other people's experience, but maybe they just spoke with someone that wasn't willing to try/help. If the 1st rep isn't willing, just keep calling back until you reach someone who is. I know for a fact they can do CLI upon activation because I have experienced it first hand. Don't let them tell you that they can't.

If they do tell you they can't do this, tell them that my co-worker "me" was granted a CLI upon activation and that due to his high recommendation of this card, you applied as well.

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

If you're active on the card and make respectable payments, you'll probably get an auto CLI after 3 or 4 months. In my experience Citi's pretty good about that. I got the auto at 3 months, and then asked for more at 6 mos. (opened at $1400, then to $2400, now $4000.) Opened in February, '08...

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

That's very good Aftermath. I've received 4 cards from Citi in the past year and some and was only able to get a small (18%) CLI on the last card I received from them. I would definitely ask upon activation and no need to be shy. Good luck OP.

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

just got approved for a Citi Diamond Preferred card. 0% APR on Purchases and BT through 8/31/09. I am planning on using this card for a BT of $1800, but only got approved for a CL of $2100. I am concerned that this would negatively affect my FICO score (around 718) because of the high utilization that card would have (over 80%). my overall utilization would be around 23%.

My question, should I call the backdoor number and request a CLI/ higher CLI? If so, how long should I wait to call, and what should I say? I have not done this before.

Thanks for all your help.

No need to wait for 6 months as mentioned in the above post. I received the exact same card as you last month ($2500). I phoned in my activation and asked the rep if I could request a CLI. Rep asked me how much was I looking for. I asked double my initial CL ($5000 total). Rep said no problem. I'm a happy camper.

I'm not sure about other people's experience, but maybe they just spoke with someone that wasn't willing to try/help. If the 1st rep isn't willing, just keep calling back until you reach someone who is. I know for a fact they can do CLI upon activation because I have experienced it first hand. Don't let them tell you that they can't.

If they do tell you they can't do this, tell them that my co-worker "me" was granted a CLI upon activation and that due to his high recommendation of this card, you applied as well.

Message Edited by aftermath on 07-28-200811:30 AM

I second aftermath's comment, you can request CLI at activation, I did as well and it was given. Please note that in my case it cost another hard inquiry, but my CL went up 10k so it was worth it. Got an instant additional $750 (soft inq on the website) 1 month after.

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

YMMV but I got my card in April and already I got a credit increase online 2 months in a row. Increased $1,200 more in June and $1,000 more in July with no hard pull. I'm really impressed with how they treat their customers.

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

Called the first night when I activated the card - the front line rep said that she pulled the CR (went through the normal questions like HHI, etc). and said that I did not qualify for an increase.

I called the next day and asked to speak to an account specialist. The woman I spoke with said that she did not even see a record of a previous request, filed another one, and got an increase of $900 to make my limit $3k. Now the utilization will be 56% instead of 80%.

When you got all of your increases month after month, how did you do it? Did you call in every month and get a hard inquiry?

Forums posts are not provided or commissioned by FICO. Forums posts have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by FICO. It is not FICO's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on myFICO are from companies from which myFICO receives compensation, which may impact how and where products appear on myFICO (including, for example, the order in which they appear). myFICO does not review or include all companies or all available products.

† Credit cards for FICO Score ranges: The score ranges are guidelines based on internal myFICO analysis of actual applicant approvals, and having a FICO Score in a particular range does not guarantee you will be approved for credit cards recommended in that range. These ranges were not provided by any card issuer.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: All FICO® Score products made available on myFICO.com include a FICO® Score 8, along with additional FICO® Score versions. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than the versions you receive from myFICO, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more

FICO, myFICO, Score Watch, The score lenders use, and The Score That Matters are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation. Equifax Credit Report is a trademark of Equifax, Inc. and its affiliated companies. Many factors affect your FICO Score and the interest rates you may receive. Fair Isaac is not a credit repair
organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. Fair Isaac does not provide "credit repair" services or advice or
assistance regarding "rebuilding" or "improving" your credit record, credit history or credit rating. FTC's website on credit.